In conjunction with the repack information the FCC just provided, here's an
additional twist, which would require even more channel sharing, for ATSC 3.0
simulcast. My continued question being, what do all the other broadcasters
think? It seems to be the big mystery of the day.
I suppose that if Sinclair owns two stations in a market, they can orchestrate
their own transitional simulcasting plan. If not?
Bert
-------------------------------------------
http://www.tvtechnology.com/atsc3/0031/sinclair-nexstar-team-on-atsc-30-launch-in-97-markets/281462
Sinclair, Nexstar Team on ATSC 3.0 Launch in 97 Markets
Agreements covers 43 markets where both own stations, and 54 where just one does
July 20, 2017
Posted by Deborah D. McAdams
IRVING, TEXAS and BALTIMORE- Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group
have reached a tentative agreement on principles to coordinate the transition
of the over-the-air delivery to ATSC 3.0 in 97 television markets.
The tentative agreement-made pursuant to Sinclair and Nexstar's previously
announced Spectrum Consortium-includes 43 markets where both companies own a
television station, and a plan to spearhead the transition for shared Next Gen
services in the 54 markets where only one of the companies owns or operates
stations.
Once the ATSC 3.0 standard is approved by the FCC, the Spectrum Consortium
expects that television stations will be permitted to enter into
channel-sharing agreements where existing ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 will be
simulcast on different stations' spectrum.
The agreements between Sinclair and Nexstar will provide that the companies
share their spectrum within their markets, with some spectrum remaining as 1.0
and other spectrum migrated to ATSC 3.0 enabled Next Gen services. The FCC's
recent broadcast spectrum auction and mandated repack of remaining broadcast
television stations has complicated the process of transitioning to the new
technology by eliminating much of the spectrum that was dedicated to free over
the air broadcasting. As such, the Spectrum Consortium believes that agreed
upon coordination principles are critical to ensuring that a transition to the
upgraded technology can occur.
"We look forward to working with Nexstar to enable new and innovative services
that add value to the viewers we serve, our advertising clients and our
broadcast assets. Sinclair and Nexstar are leading the broadcast industry in
this critical technology upgrade and we are confident that through our
coordination and mutual efforts we can navigate this transition together," said
Chris Ripley, president and CEO of Sinclair.
And Perry Sook, chairman, president and CEO of Nexstar. "Our collaboration with
Sinclair demonstrates Nexstar's commitment to making 'NextGen' television a
reality for the communities and businesses we serve across America. Our
research and analysis indicates that this market-based solution to the
transition is a win for broadcasters and for television viewers who will soon
have access to the enhanced over-the-air services that this new technology can
bring, which will enable us to remain highly competitive in today's
multi-platform environment," saidPerry Sook, Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Nexstar.
Specific market roll out schedules and sharing arrangements are in development
in anticipation of the FCC approval of the new ATSC 3.0 standard by the fourth
quarter of 2017.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
